Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix (small batch)

Name: Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix (small batch)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 2 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 3.5 ounces Dark Chocolate bar, chopped (I used 85% cocoa); 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon cane sugar or sugar substitute; 1/8 teaspoon salt ((optional))

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Make your own small batch of dark hot chocolate with this delicious 5 minute homemade hot chocolate mix, then keep it yourself or turn it into the easiest holiday gift. It makes the most delicious chocolatey, creamy, warming hot chocolate.

3 Ingredient homemade hot chocolate mix in mug with more mix in background

[This homemade hot chocolate mix recipe was originally posted in November 2016. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

Ingredients
Instructions
How to make for gifts?
Substitutions/Tips
FAQ
How can I repurpose this hot cocoa mix?
What can I make with leftover ingredients?

This homemade hot chocolate mix makes a great holiday gift. It's super easy, quick, inexpensive, and you probably have all the ingredients you need to make it. I love making homemade or food gifts to give out to friends and family.

Print out simple instructions to 1-1.5 Tablespoons cocoa mix into 1 cup of milk, then heat. You can also include ideas for the best hot chocolate toppings to make your hot chocolate even more delicious (like peanut butter powder or peppermint).

Make sure to also check out all the best winter seasonal recipes like this simple sauteed kale salad. OR these chocolate dipped oreos, homemade gingerbread mix, or gingerbread pound cake as other holiday gift ideas.

Ingredients

Scroll down to the homemade hot chocolate mix recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.

chocolate bar, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt on a table

Dark Chocolate bar: choose a chocolate bar that you really like, as it'll add lots of flavor to your homemade hot chocolate mix.
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Turbinado sugar: Or use whatever sugar you have on hand, this is an easy substitute.
Salt

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.

1. Start to make homemade hot chocolate mix by chopping up a dark chocolate bar. Then add to a small mason jar. Add unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, and salt to jar. Seal lid on jar.

2. Store cocoa mix in well sealed jar the pantry until use.

hot cocoa with whisk and other ingredients surrounding it on a table

3. Add 1-1 ½ Tablespoons homemade hot chocolate mix to 8 ounces (1 cup) milk of choice. Heat over stove or in microwave (in 1 minute increments) until desired temperature. Top with whipped cream or other hot chocolate toppings.

How to make for gifts?

Multiply this homemade hot chocolate mix recipe and package in individual jars. It's that easy.

Substitutions/Tips

Use your favorite chocolate or chocolate chips, I prefer 70% chocolate.
Make extra homemade hot chocolate mix to gift or have more for later. Adjust the number of servings in the recipe by clicking the number of servings in the recipe card & sliding the bar until the recipe is the right size.
Add more sugar to cocoa if desired.
Choose whole milk for the creamiest hot chocolate.
Other great add-ins: Try these Hot Chocolate Toppings.

FAQ

What is hot chocolate mix made of?

Hot chocolate mix is usually made with different types of chocolate, sugar, salt and depending on the brand, preservatives or other ingredients, homemade has similar ingredients. It's usually mixed with hot milk or water.

What can you add to hot chocolate mix to make it better?

I wrote a whole article about making hot chocolate even better with delicious toppings. Check it out here.

How do you make the best instant hot chocolate?

The best way to make delicious instant hot chocolate is to start with great chocolate. Use your favorite chocolate bar and cocoa powder. And of course sugar too!

Start with ingredients you like on their own, then you'll end up with great hot cocoa.

3 ingredient hot cocoa in a mug with ingredients surrounding it

How can I repurpose this hot cocoa mix?

Gift homemade hot chocolate mixes
Add it to pancake or waffle mix for a chocolate boost.

What can I make with leftover ingredients?

Dark Chocolate Bar: Use instead of chocolate chips in this Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, or Chocolate Dipped Oreos.
Cocoa Powder: Small Batch Chocolate Cookies or Blueberry Chocolate Muffins.

Did you make this homemade hot chocolate mix? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!